simbakubwa

Thanks for the feedback!

My final question... do you think I would prefer Nakuru park or Sweetwaters park if I had to choose between them?

They seem quite similar from the posts... but I'm curious what Fodorites might recommend....

simbakubwa

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roadwarriorafrica

Nakuru has the flamingos, Sweetwaters does not.

If the flamingos are of little or no interest, then I would choose Sweetwaters. The accommodation is better, there are less vehicles on the game drives, and the variety of wildlife is good (inc. elephants).

aby

Hi SimbaKubwa!
here is my prejudiced, subjective view:

Nakuru has the upper hand regarding these points:

1. The flamingo great 'spectacle'
can't understand how anybody (let alone a fodorite) can decide to miss it
2. for keen photographers: you can get far closer to animals! saving thousands of dollars on expensive lenses ;-)
(where else can you get so close to a waterbuck??) yes they are "tame"...
3. A very good place to spot the spotted "Madoadoa ya juu" (ChuiKubwa).
two leopards in one game drive is no sensation...
4. The awesome 'Baboon Cliff' viewpoint - any equivalent in Sweetwaters??? (well maybe the old timer still remembers the days of the majestic Black Eagle seen from the cliffs...)
5. Birdlife!! (not only Flamingoes, Pelicans & Cormorants... so many species; u can't miss the long-crested eagle. not hard to find the verreaux's Eagle-Owl... )
6. . the only place on planet earth one can come to watch the Rothschield's Giraffe
7. the most beautiful Euphorbia candelabrum forest in East Africa;
(swear i've seen hundreds of non-botanist, common tourists, take pics of)

guess some other people may mention 2 species of Rhino in Nakuru(imported/translocated/introduced)
Lions & Cheetahs can also be seen sometimes

i shall leave some space for the SweetWaters advocates

aby

simbakubwa

Thanks so much Aby!

Have you been to Sweetwaters lately? If so, are you able to compile a similar list of the advantages of Sweetwaters?

You've been a real help!

Wingi

I haven't been to Sweetwaters, so I can't make a comparison between them. I would just like to agree with Aby that Nakuru is great - especially for photographers.

I think that some people get very snobby about Nakuru because it can get very busy with all the tour groups doing a quick whizz round the lake and you see some people behaving very badly - chasing the pelicans, trying to get their photo taken whilst standing with a herd of buffalo!!!!!! But it is very easy to get away from the crowds if you want to.

We had some very memorable sightings last Christmas - 2 leopards lying together in a tree and a wild dog, which we were able to follow along the lake shore for quite a long time as nobody else was interested in it!

HariS

I'm agree with Aby ..... my vote goes to Nakuru also! There are plenty of rhinos there, from memory. Ofcourse, the flamingoes ...... reticulated giraffe make for great photo ops ... from memory, i think we saw a small pride of lions also!

Hari

ann_nyc

Sweetwaters has the option of a night game drive (we saw 5 lions stalking a white rhino).

And Sweetwaters also has a waterhole, so you can see lots of wildlife from your tent, or from the dining room. The wildlife at the waterhole may not be the most exotic, but it is wonderful to be able to just sit comfortably and watch the natural progression of the animals coming and going.

atravelynn

Narrowing the focus to just Nakuru, what do you think the best month to visit Nakuru would be to maximize both mammal and birdlife?

During the best time, would a 3-night stay be reasonable or one day too many?

aby

<b>SimbaKubwa</b>

are we not comparing Mangoes to Passion-fruits?

Anyhow about Sweetwaters:
1. The water-hole is nice (personally i'd prefer Ark or Mt. Lodge)
2. my &quot;diagnossis&quot; is that mostly Americans i talked to liked it because of the 'under canvas experience' + a stopover not to have too much driving between other parks...
3. rehabilitated Chimps
4. as far as i know (correct me if i'm wrong), it is the only place one can actually touch a (relatively tame)'Black' Rhino - if &quot;Morani&quot; is still there
5. night drives
6. Ellies - none at Nakuru

personally i wouldn't pay to be there
(i was always paid to be there...)
If i wanted wildlife i would go for Samburu
as a stopover + waterhole i'd prefer Ark or Mt. Lodge
in many itineraries i'd prefer to add
<font color="red"><b>Naivasha</b></font> instead of SW, like i argued (with zero success) at different threads...!!!

maybe if taking a kid with me, in order to educate her/him on the Chimp abuse &amp; rehabilitation + taking her/hispicture together with a rhino, would i consider this place

<b>Lynn</b>
3 nights - hard to tell... what is the rest of your itinerary?
many stay only one night in Nakuru, others 2 nights. 3 nights would be rare.
If you'd like to photograph some closeups, or if you are a birder you may spend 3 nights

<font color="blue">Go up &quot;Menegai Crater&quot; (from the city) for a special viewpoint </font>

aby

aby

oops <font color="blue">&quot;Mene<b>n</b>gai Crater&quot;</font>

Wingi

Lynn

I can't advise on best month to visit L. Nakuru, as both times I've been there at Christmas.

We stayed there for 3 nights, but we rarely stay anywhere for fewer nights than 3. There is plenty for keen (obsessive?) photographers to do - even last Xmas when there was the concern about all the flamingoes disappearing. (I think that they have returned now).

aby

Lynn
you can visit Nakuru anytime there's really no favourable season
just mind the rains (in rainy season you need abit more luck)